2 Wheel Drive

[Smcdermott]

Does anyone tow with a 2wd 3/4 ton truck? I am considering getting rid of my Tacoma and getting an older 3/4 ton that would only be used for towing the boat (21' CC) and get an a high mpg car for everyday driving. Obviously the 2wd models are a lot cheaper. My only real concern would be the ramp as the truck would not see any winter use except for maybe the odd dump run etc...I hardly ever have to put the Tacoma in 4wd but it has always felt good knowing its there.

Thanks,

Sean

[maineguideman]

Yea I do
I have been using my Nissan Quest minivan it has the same engine as the Nissan Pathfinder and front wheel drive it actually did a real good job with the boat. I was "comutin" in a Hyundai and "pullen" the boat with a minivan??? I said enough is enough I traded in the Hyundai for a ford F-150 I found a nice 1/2 ton with a V-6. I would have liked four wheel drive but cant swing the gas and maintenace. My boat is preety lite as well < 1800#
Good luck Low tide should be interesting

[nsvencer]

Sean,

I don't do it, but I see it done all the time. Biggest question is where will you be launching most and what condition are those ramps in? I've put my Jeep in 4x4 once or twice when the ramp was steep, slippery, and the trailer drops off a bit on the end. Rear wheels begain to slip, but in 4x4 it pops right out. If you're using well maintained ramps with good grip and a nice pitch, should be no problem at all.

With all that said, I've seen guys with HUGE jacked up 4x4 trucks spinning all wheels when they dumped their 30' cigarette boats on trailer right of the end of the ramp into the potholes....

nick

[gf2020]

Keep your Tacoma 4X4!

I changed jobs in December and find myself on the road a lot more now so I kept my 2 year old 4 wheel drive truck and purchased a cheap ($1900) 4 cylinder car for commuting.

30 MPG in the car versus 14 MPG for the truck and it's great not putting any miles on the truck except on the weekends and the occasional snowy commute!

I put together a spreadsheet and with gas prices climbing, the pay back period for me is right around 12 months.